The best air purifiers you can buy right now

COVID-19 and wildfire smoke covering the NYC skyline showed the importance of keeping the air in our homes clean of pollutants.

Sadly, the air purifier industry is full of many bad actors, with manufacturers claiming lab reports that don’t exist and exaggerating room size recommendations — and even big media publications recommending sub-par devices just to earn a higher affiliate commission off your purchase.

But improving the air quality inside your home doesn’t need to burn a hole in your pocket.

Since 2020, we have bought and thoroughly tested 94 air purifiers (and counting!) with the goal of separating the good from the absolute scams.

HouseFresh picks: The best air purifiers we tested

These are our recommendations for the best air purifiers you can buy today.

After all our testing, I am confident that these air purifiers are the best units you can buy today based on their reliability, air cleaning performance and yearly running costs:

	FOR MOST PEOPLE	BUDGET OPTION	SMALL SPACES	LARGE SPACES	FOR SMOKE	WITH IONIZER	CLASSROOMS & OFFICES	QUIETEST	DIY OPTION
	Levoit Vital 200S	AirFanta 3Pro	Winix A231	Levoit Core 600S	IQAir HealthPro Plus	Winix 5500-2	Smart Air Blast Mini	CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7	Corsi-Rosenthal Box
Time to PM1 zero	23 mins	17 mins	40 mins	15 mins	28 mins	23 mins	15 mins	23 mins	30 mins
CADR	263 CFM	430 CFM	154 CFM	373 CFM	250 CFM	243 CFM	450 CFM	323 CFM	274 CFM
Filter tech	Particle + carbon	H11 HEPA + optional carbon	True HEPA + carbon	Particle + carbon	HyperHEPA + V50-CELL carbon	True HEPA + carbon	H13 HEPA + optional carbon	MERV 13 filters	MERV 13 filters
Max room size (5 ACH)	367 sq. ft.	671 sq. ft.	231 sq. ft.	559 sq. ft.	375 sq. ft.	360 sq. ft.	703 sq. ft.	485 sq. ft.	411 sq. ft.
Noise levels	38-57 dB	36-56 dB	35-57 dB	40-61 dB	36-61 dB	38-58 dB	44-56 dB	38.8 dB	49-60 dB
Yearly running costs	$311.89	$125.23	$119.54	$195.13	$421.47	$161.53	$311.89	$58.16	$110.88
List price	$189.99	$159.99	$99.99	$299.99	$949.00	$249.99	$599.00	$299.00	$85.00

According to the AHAM Verifide certificate, the Levoit Vital 200S has an overall CADR is 245 CFM, and it can provide up to five air changes per hour in rooms up to 367 sq. ft. I’m happy to report that the CADR rating matches our performance tests. 

When we tested the air cleaning performance of the Vital 200S, it was capable of removing all PM1 particles from the air in our 728 cubic ft. test room in just 23 minutes — which is nearly as fast as devices costing upwards of $500.

The Vital 200S is one of Levoit’s newest devices, and it shows. Its new hyperefficient fan managed to clean the air in our test room 31 minutes faster than the Levoit Core 300 while consuming almost the same amount of energy: in our tests, it pulled just 44.55 watts when running at its highest speed. 

This reduced energy consumption means lower energy bills. The Vital 200S, running all day every day for one year, will only add $67.95 to your electricity bill — that is $13.60 less than what you’d pay for the Winix 5500-2 ($81.54) to get a similar performance.

Many air purifiers improve particle removal performance using an ionizer in combination with HEPA filtration. Even though modern devices that use ionizers don’t release ozone anymore, some of our readers say they are sensitive to them, so you will be pleased to know that the Levoit Vital 200S has no ionizer function. 

To make you aware, Dyson made a complaint about Levoit’s use of HEPA, and afterward, Levoit removed this term from their marketing for its Core series but didn’t remove it from their marketing material for this device, so we can assume that the filters used for the Vital 200S are True HEPA.

This device is our top choice because it offers outstanding air cleaning performance, generates low levels of noise, has a removable pre-filter (which make it easier to clean), doesn’t use an ionizer AND it includes smart functions like auto-mode and app support (which is extremely rare at this price point). 

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

2. The best budget air purifier is the AirFanta 3Pro

The PC fan-powered 3Pro is one of the best-performing air purifiers to date with a super budget-friendly initial price.

Most websites that “recommend” air purifiers just care about their commission check. That could explain why you won’t find the AirFanta 3Pro on any “best air purifier” lists, as it truly is a cheap air purifier that isn’t available on major retailers with affiliate programs such as Target or Walmart.

The AirFanta 3Pro was released in 2024 by Adam Wong, someone who is very active on social media platforms (@Engineer_Wong) and an active member of the COVID cautious community. As soon as we learned about the 3Pro, we knew we had to test it. On paper, it offered a massive CADR score of 430 CFM, unheard of at the low price of $159.99.

When we finally got to test it in our home lab, it removed all the PM1 pollutants from our incense smoke test in 17 minutes, this is 21 minutes quicker than what we saw with the $400+ super smart Mila.

It’s not just raw air cleaning performance that makes the AirFanta 3Pro our most recommended budget-friendly air purifier. With a design inspired by the Corsi-Rosenthal Box, the 3Pro is a box with a plastic base, four H11 HEPA filters (with optional pelleted carbon) at each side and four PC fans on top. You can disassemble and reassemble the 3Pro to bring it with you inside a carry-on suitcase or large backpack wherever you go.

When buying a 3Pro, you can choose between HEPA 11 filters only or HEPA 11 with activated carbon. If you are looking for an air purifier to tackle unwanted odors or gases, make sure to get the filters with carbon.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

3. The best air purifier for small spaces is the Winix A231 (a.k.a. Zero Compact)

Affordable, energy-efficient and compact, the Winix A231 (or A230 in black) is a great choice for rooms smaller than 200 sq. ft.

Even though buying a small air purifier might save you some money on the initial purchase, the long-term costs can be the same for much less clean air in your home.

That is why I always recommend that most people go for large air purifiers with a minimum CADR of 200 cfm because smaller devices usually run too loud at the highest fan speed and need filters changed more regularly than larger units. 

However, I also know that consumers want smaller devices, which explains for why the Levoit Core Mini and the Aroeve MK1 are popular best sellers, even when they are pretty useless for the average American home.

Thankfully, we tested many smaller air purifiers last year, and I am pleased to say that the Winix A231 surprised me to the point it became one of the best-performing devices we tested. It also helps that you can often find this air purifier for less than $80—when I wrote this post, it was $75.99. 

Like other small air purifiers, the Winix A231 doesn’t take much space but has a decent CADR of 149 cfm for dust. In our air cleaning performance test, it cleaned the air in our test room of PM1 pollutants in 40 minutes with PlasmaWave (ionizer) enabled. As with most Winix models, the Plasmawave is optional; you can run the A231 with just the mechanical filters.

Like any small air purifier, I recommend you don’t use this device in rooms larger than 200 sq. ft. However, if you have limited space and need to find a small device you can place on top of a side table, then the Winix A231 is the best option on the market.

➜ Read our full review

4. The best air purifier for large spaces is the Levoit Core 600S

The 600S has an impressive CADR and works fast even in large spaces (up to 559 sq. ft.), all while offering excellent value for your money.

Most air purifiers are designed for average room sizes of around 350 sq. ft., and while you could use two devices together, this can cost more in the long run when you factor in energy consumption and filter replacements.

Those with spaces over 500 square feet need a larger device that can move enough air to provide at least 4.8 air changes per hour. Devices like the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ series can achieve this with the help of a combination of filtration and ionization, but not everyone wants to use an ionizer. If with just want to clean the air in a large area with mechanical filtration alone, you can expect to pay upwards of $500. 

Levoit changed all this with the release of the Levoit Core 600S. 

The Core 600S uses mechanical filtration to provide five (5!) air changes per hour in spaces up to 559 sq. ft. When we tested it in our 728 cubic feet test room, it cleared our room of PM1 pollutants in just 22 minutes. 

As I mentioned before, Dyson complained to the BBB about Levoit using HEPA in its marketing materials. This affected mainly the Levoit Core series, meaning the 600S doesn’t include HEPA-certified filters. That said, HEPA filters aren’t required to clean the air in your home. As we saw with the CR box and DIY air purifiers that use HVAC filters, non-HEPA-grade filters can be quicker at removing particles from the air.

For less than $300, the Levoit Core 600S includes an auto-mode, an onboard screen showing current pollutant levels and even app support. Be aware, though, that this is a big air purifier that will require floor space. But for raw cleaning power for larger spaces, the Core 600S offers the most bang for your buck in rooms of up to 559 sq. ft.

➜ Read our full review

5. The best air purifier for smoke is the IQAir HealthPro Plus

A Swiss-quality air purifier packed with 5 lbs of activated carbon that cleans the air as effectively as new devices, even though it was released in 1998.

While many air purifiers contain activated carbon filters, these are often far too small to deal with severe odor issues like cigarette smoke from neighbors or chemical gases from construction work. HEPA alone won’t be able to block these VOCs, and the standard amount of carbon you find in most air purifiers will quickly become full and ineffective.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus features a gas filter with over 5 lbs of activated carbon and zeolite in combination with a HyperHEPA primary filter and a pre-filter. Paired with a powerful fan, it provides effective gas and odor removal — it cleaned our test room of all PM1 particulate matter in 28 minutes.

The Austin Air Healthmate is another device that comes packed with A LOT of carbon, but it failed to make this list as it’s too underpowered in terms of particulate removal for such a hefty price ($700). The IQAir HealthPro Plus provides much better value.

Be aware that IQAir devices don’t come cheap ($900 for the HealthPro Plus), but they do come with a 5-year warranty. Every air purifier is made in Switzerland and tested in the factory before being delivered to your home with a hand-signed certificate. This is one of the most reliable air purifiers on the market. It is even more impressive when you find out that the HealthPro Plus was released in 1998!

Now, the HealthPro Plus is not the best-looking device on the market, and if that’s an issue for you, you will want to look at the IQAir Atem X instead. The Atem X is on our list to review in 2025, so we can’t speak of its air cleaning performance, but its fashionable design doesn’t come cheap at $1,400!

➜ Read our full review

6. The best air purifier with an on/off ionizer function is the Winix 5500-2

A powerful air cleaner with separate filters (pre-filter, HEPA filter, washable activated carbon filter) and PlasmaWave, which is an ionizer function that you can turn on and off.

With a great price-to-CADR ratio, the Winix 5500-2 is among the fastest air purifiers we tested. This air purifier is made in Korea by one of the most well-known air purifier manufacturers in the world, producing air cleaners since 1973. The Winix team has been developing great units for many years, so it makes sense for us to have not one but two Winix devices on our list this year.

The 5500-2 cleaned our test room in 23 minutes when running with the PlasmaWave ionizer function on. Even when disabling the PlasmaWave function, the 5500-2 delivers: it only took the unit two more minutes to reach PM1 zero after we burnt an incense stick inside our 728 cubic feet test room.

One of my favorite things about the 5500-2 is that it comes with three separate filters, two of which you can wash and reuse (the pre-filter and the pelleted activated carbon filter). It is getting increasingly popular for air purifiers to come with bonded filters, where everything is stuck together. The problem with this type of filters is that once the activated carbon becomes full (usually within 3-6 months), you will need to replace the entire filter, even if the HEPA or particle filter is still usable. This is not an issue with the 5500-2 and I really hope Winix will continue producing units with separate filters.

The initial price point ($160 when writing this) is not the only affordable aspect of the 5500-2. The unit is highly energy-efficient and the filters need to be replaced every 12 months, which will reduce the long-term costs of running this air purifier. Yet, it boasts smart features such as an auto mode and an air quality indicator on the control panel.

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

7. The best for offices and classrooms is the Smart Air Blast Mini

Robust, powerful, quiet and straightforward; functional as only the SmartAir team could achieve.

Smart Air is a Certified B Corp and social enterprise that puts 100% of its profits back into creating clean air and fighting air pollution. Plus, it does great experiments to bust myths about air purifiers.

With 435 CFM (740 m³/h), the Blast Mini boasts the highest CADR of all the air purifiers we have tested to date, except for the Alorair Clean Shield HEPA 550, which you wouldn’t want to use in an office or classroom due to how painfully loud it is (74.5 dB at its top fan speed). When testing its air cleaning performance, the Blast Mini cleaned our test room of all PM1.0 pollutants in only 12 minutes.

Most air purifiers designed for larger spaces use powerful fans to push enough air through the filters, which means they also run super loudly at top fan speed settings. Smart Air takes a different approach with its Blast Mini. Using a large surface area of filters, they can get enough air through them without too much noise. In our sound levels testing, we measured the Blast Mini hitting only 56.3 dB(A) at its highest fan speed, 51.2 dB(A) for mid-speed and 44.9 dB(A) at its lowest speed. Be sure to have a listen for yourself:

The combination of a low level of noise generated and a high CADR makes the Blast Mini an excellent choice for situations requiring clean air without impacting concentration, like a classroom or office. 

It’s not cheap, but if you have the funds and want the best air cleaning for large spaces with the least noise, the Smart Air Blast Mini is the device you should buy. When we first got the device, the carbon filter was an optional extra, but they now sell versions with it included. 

If you have a smaller space, you should consider the wall-mountable Smart Air SA600, which only makes 56 dB at its high fan speed and is good enough for rooms up to 450 sq. ft. versus the 915 sq. ft. you get with the Smart Air Blast Mini.

➜ Read our full review

8. The best performing quiet air purifier is the CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7

This air purifier generates 38.8 dB of noise and still managed to clear our test room minutes faster than the popular Coway Airmega AP-1512hh and Levoit Core 400S.

2024 was the year where we discovered PC fan-powered air purifiers designed to be built at home, and the Luggable XL-7 from CleanAirKits was the device that convinced me that this is the future of air cleaners. The Luggable XL-7 combines a lightweight wood case, seven Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 PC fans and two 20x25x1 MERV 13 filters (one on each side of the device). You can use any 20×25 MERV 13 filters, although CleanAirKits recommends opting for the 3M Filtrete MPR1900+.

The best Luggable XL-7 feature is by far how incredibly quiet it runs, without compromising on air cleaning power. When running at its only fan speed, the Luggable XL-7 generated just 38.8 dB of noise while still being able to clear our 728-cubic-feet test room in 23 minutes — this is as fast as popular traditional air purifiers like the Levoit Vital 200S (our top recommendation on this list) and the Winix 5500-2 (also on this list). Incredible performance for this super quiet level of sound.

I bought the DIY kit, which came with everything I needed to build my Luggable XL except for the filters. If you want to build your own Luggable, CleanAirKits will send you a box with five or seven Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 PC fans (depending on which option you choose), four hardboard panels (one with an integrated handle), a power supply, internal pre-tensioner cords, foam tape strips and fan guard grills. It wasn’t an easy build but I’m not particularly great at DIYing so you might find the process easier than I did. You can also go for the pre-built Luggable XL, which costs $299 (versus the $227 of the DIY kit).

➜ Read our full review

➜ Watch our video review

9. The best DIY air purifier is the Corsi–Rosenthal Box

A DIY approach to democratize indoor air cleaning.

The Corsi–Rosenthal Box, or CR Box for short, was invented during the dark days of COVID-19 to help people clean their air with items you are likely to find in the average U.S. household: a standard box fan, four MERV-13 HVAC filters, duct tape and cardboard. 

Here at HouseFresh, we aim to help more consumers improve the quality of their air indoors, so we had to test the CR Box for ourselves, and I was very impressed with how quickly it removed PM1 particles from our test room.

An air purifier is just a fan and a filter and the CR box is a perfect example of this. Even with MERV 13 filters, which are lower-graded compared to HEPA, it removed PM1 (particles measuring 1 micron) from our 728 cubic feet test room in 30 minutes. 

But don’t just take our word for it; the EPA tested it and found it to be 99% effective at removing airborne viruses.

While a high-quality commercial device offers long-term and quality-of-life benefits, a DIY air cleaner can be the best option for those who need a swift air purifying solution due to wildfire smoke or an unexpected airborne pandemic.

Be aware that a Corsi–Rosenthal Box will take up a lot of floor space and, depending on your box fan, can run quite loud.

➜ Read our full review

Special mentions: the air purifiers that nearly made the shortlist

Five good-performing air purifiers that didn’t make the cut, but that could be a good choice for you.

While we only wanted to feature the best of the best units we’ve tested, it’s also worth mentioning some other air purifiers with outstanding performance.

Smart Air SA600

The SA600 is a wall mountable air purifier that pulls air from both sides of the device with its two sets of HEPA H13 and activated carbon filters. It doesn’t have any smart functionalities and the controls are straightforward with just four buttons: one to adjust fan speeds, a child lock, a filter reset button and the on/off button. I really liked that the lights on the control panel go off automatically, which is a great feature for a bedroom.

In our particle removal test, the SA600 reached PM1 zero in 24 minutes, which is comparable to what we saw with the Vital 200S, the 5500-2 and the Luggable XL-7. This unit didn’t make our short list because the use of two sets of filters raised the long-term running costs to $198.02 per year. To put this into context, you’ll spend $96.82 to run a Vital 200S for a year, including filter replacement costs and the extra $$ on your electricity bill. But if you’re looking for a powerful air purifier without any smart functions that can be mounted on the wall, then the SA600 could be the one for you.

Xiaomi Pro 4

The Pro 4 air purifier from Xiaomi has the same shape and roughly the same size as the Levoit Core 600S, my top recommendation for large spaces. Inside, you will find a tall cylindrical bonded filter, including a non-HEPA particle filter and a gas filter that (according to Xiaomi) has 650 grams of activated carbon pellets. In terms of air cleaning performance, the Xiaomi Pro 4 completed our particle removal test in 20 minutes, which is one full minute faster than the Levoit Core 600S.

To operate the Pro 4, you can use a flashy OLED touch screen without any physical buttons. After using this device at home for a few months, it became clear that the onboard screen lacks useful functionalities as it only allows you to adjust fan speeds and enable smart mode. For all the other features (including disabling the ionizer), you will need to use the app. This can be annoying at times when your phone is out of reach. That said, the app itself is quite slick and modern, and it is the same one you will use for other Xiaomi products, which could be a benefit if you already have Xiaomi smart devices.

CleanAirKits Triple Exhalaron

The Exhalaron is another PC fan-powered air purifier from CleanAirKits. The Triple version comes with three PC fans and three cylindrical H10 HEPA filters, and has a CADR of 120 cfm. When we tested its air cleaning performance of the Triple Exhalaron running at its highest fan speed, it cleaned our test room in 46 minutes, which is faster than the popular Levoit Core 300 and the PuroAir 240.

As with other PC fan-powered air purifiers, the Triple Exhalaron is whisper quiet, reaching 40.5 dB when running at its top fan speed. But unlike the Luggable XL-7, the Triple Exhalaron comes pretty much ready out of the box. And when the time comes to replace the filters, you will be able to do it in just a few minutes by disconnecting the crossed bungees from the wooden base, which will expose the three filters.

The reason we didn’t include this air purifier in our main shortlist has to do with its price. At $359, this is quite an expensive small air purifier that won’t be suitable for all budgets. However, if you are looking for a small air purifier you can use as a table centerpiece, then the Exhalaron might be the right choice for you.

Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty

The Coway Airmega Mighty is the NYT Wirecutter’s most recommended air purifier since 2014 due to its reliability, affordable cost and good air cleaning performance. This has turned the Coway AP-1512HH into the most popular air purifier in the world.

It comes with a True HEPA filter and a layer of carbon impregnated fabric, and has a dust CADR of 247 CFM. In our particle removal test, it needed 26 minutes to reach PM1 zero, which is two minutes slower than the Smart Air SA600 but two minutes faster than the Levoit Core 400S. Overall, this is great air cleaning for an air purifier sold for under $250.

However, after testing nearly 100 air purifiers, I personally feel it is now a little dated. In 2025, there are better options for performance per $ spent (AirFanta 3Pro), energy efficiency (Levoit Vital 200S), sound generated (CleanAirKits Luggable XL-7) and odor removal (Winix 5500-2).

Levoit Core 400S

The Core 400S from Levoit is an air purifier with smartphone connectivity that works well against VOCs thanks to its bigger-than-average carbon filter. You’ll get good performance against particulates, too, with the 400S completing our particle removal test in 28 minutes, which is much faster than the Molekule Air Mini+ (61 minutes), the Dyson TP07 (62 minutes) and the Mila (38 minutes).

The Core 400S comes with Levoit’s signature 3-in-1 bonded filter, which includes a pre-filter to capture large particles, an activated carbon filter to tackle odors and gases, and a particle filter to remove particulates from the air. However, Levoit had to remove all mentions of HEPA from the marketing of this filter after a complaint from Dyson to the BBB. This doesn’t affect the performance of the 400S, but it is something I always like to clarify when talking about a unit from Levoit because consumers need to know. That said, the lack of a HEPA grade filter was not the reason why this device didn’t make our shortlist. As with other units in this ‘special mentions’ section, I believe there are newer models (such as the Levoit Vital 200S) that offer a better bang for your buck compared to what you get with the Core 400S.

Other air purifiers that we tested, but you should avoid

These devices are a bad investment, based on how overpriced and underperforming they all are.

Unlike most consumer products, the work of an air purifier is hidden from the naked eye. Unless you use a high-grade laser sensor, you will have no idea if all the tinniest particles have been removed from your air. 

We have been disappointed to see many air purifiers fail to live up to expectations set by marketing materials. We like to make consumers aware of these overpriced and underpowered devices, backed by the air cleaning performance test data we gather with every review we conduct.

• Okaysou AirMax 10L Pro – This device became a best-seller on Amazon thanks to a successful influencer campaign on TikTok. In our testing, it failed to match the hype or price point. We found that Okaysou used marketing tricks to inflate its performance. I would avoid any Okaysou device. Update 26 June 2024: Okaysou is now bankrupt, and you can no longer buy it and their 5-year warranty is now worthless.

• Molekule Air Mini+ – Molekule has been touting its new PECO technology but has had to remove many of its previous marketing messages due to misleading advertising claims and class action lawsuits due to the lack of performance. In our test, it was very poor at removing PM1 particles and emitted 86 dB at its highest fan speed — louder than a leafblower! If this device is recommended in 2025, know that this is due to the high commission for the publisher recommending it, as they start at $349 and go up to $999 with the Pro series.

• Rainbow RainMate – This is an old device that is still touted as being able to clean the air. However, it was the worst-performing device in our tests, making me think that water air-cleaning is totally useless in even the smallest of home rooms. Don’t rely on this device to clean your air; stick to a good old mechanical filtration.

• PuroAir 240 – Previously sold under the name ‘PuroAir HEPA 14 240), the PuroAir 240 didn’t live up to the marketing spiel. After completing all our tests, we found that this air purifier has poor air cleaning performance for its price and is too underpowered to clean spaces of up to 1,100 sq. ft., which is something that is mentioned multiple times in the marketing materials and on PuroAir’s website.

What to look for when buying an air purifier 

The basic things you need to consider to make sure you’re not being duped into buying a device that won’t help.

The qualities you should look for in an air purifier will differ if you want to reduce allergy triggers at home, live near a busy road, need to improve your air quality during wildfire season or deal with pet odors and dander. However, some things will always be important.

1. The size of the room and the CADR (clean air delivery rate) of the air purifier. 

It’s vital to analyze these two aspects together, considering many brands overstate the cleaning performance of their units. It’s not necessarily unfunded, but there’s a catch.

According to the EPA, for an air purifier to be truly effective, it should be able to perform 4.8 air changes per hour (or ACH) in a room. Unfortunately, some brands will advertise the room size coverage to achieve just one ACH, being able to claim a somewhat opaque wider coverage.  

The rule is simple: a higher CADR (stated in CFM, or cubic feet per meter) means greater cleaning power. Instead of focusing on room sizes recommended by the manufacturer, look at the CADR rating.

The best way to go about it is to figure out how powerful an air purifier needs to be for your space’s specific dimensions. You can use our calculator to do just that:

2. The filtration system

Pure mechanical purifiers stand their ground on efficiency and safety when it comes to air filtration. The most comprehensive systems feature three stages:

• A pre-filter to trap larger particles that would otherwise clog the main filter faster. The best units feature a removable pre-filter, making it easier to vacuum, rinse and keep in top shape. But you may find the pre-filter attached to the main one in budget air purifiers. It’s better than not having one, but it’s also harder to clean. 

• An activated carbon filter to adsorb gasses and smells. If you need an air purifier to deal with mold spores, for example, an activated carbon filter won’t be absolutely necessary, as spores are not gases but particles.
  
  But if you are after a device to help you reduce unwanted smells or deal with chemicals and VOCs, then an activated carbon filter will be able to do what particle filters (like HEPA or MERV 13) cannot.

• Lastly, the main particle filter will remove microscopic particles from the airstream. HEPA-grade filters can remove at least 99.97% of particulate matter as small as 0.3 microns.
  
  Yet, a denser filter just for the sake of it—like with PuroAir’s HEPA 14—is not necessarily equivalent to a better performance. On the contrary, it’s important to balance fan power and filter thickness. If a filter is too dense and the air purifier is not potent enough to draw a good amount of air and pass it through, the cleaning power is reduced. It takes longer to remove airborne pollutants with restricted airflow.

3. Noise output

The fan that powers your air purifier can generate a lot of noise, and you are unlikely to want to use your unit regularly if this noise becomes too much. That is why it’s worth factoring in how noisy the unit will be, especially when running at its top fan speed. This is particularly important if you want an air purifier for the bedroom or your home office. 

Two things to consider:

• Smaller units won’t make much of a difference to the air when running at the slowest fan speed, and they tend to be noisier than larger ones at top speed. 

• Some air purifiers suited for big spaces can be whisper-quiet when running at their lowest fan speeds, so it is worth going bigger to get a unit that will run quieter.

4. Long-term costs

In addition to the upfront cost of buying an air purifier, you should also consider associated maintenance costs such as energy usage and filter replacement.

Running your air purifier 24/7 2ill substantially improve your air, but that also means an appliance adding to your electricity bill all day, year-round. The good news is that many energy-efficient units out there won’t significantly affect your monthly expenses. However, make sure to check this to avoid unpleasant surprises, as some units are on the power-hungry side.

A few things to consider in terms of filters:

• Filter replacement costs vary among brands and models — and so does the required replacement frequency. 
• The longer a unit has been on the market, the more probable good-quality generic filters will be available. 
• More and more brands are offering convenient filter subscriptions that are cost-effective and include perks for happier customers.

5. Extra features

An extensive control panel with smart functions, app support, onboard air quality sensors or remote controls are handy perks that can make life easier. A no-lights mode for the bedroom, for example, is definitely something worth considering. 

However, if asked, I would recommend not to sacrifice CADR or performance over fancier tech-y bonuses. After all, the purpose of an air purifier is to clean the air.

How we test air purifiers

Saying we tested 94 air purifiers in the last four years sounds great, doesn’t it? But what does testing mean for HouseFresh?

It’s definitely not just getting the units out of their boxes to take some cool editorial pictures for our articles. On the contrary, it is a thorough process that involves reliable testing devices to cover the many aspects of air purifier evaluation.

Air cleaning performance is key, for sure. But we go further. When you decide to invest in an air purifier that will be constantly running at home, things like long-term costs and noise output are also important in a real-world context. 

Our testing process includes the following steps: 

Step 1. We conduct a particle removal test

First, we burn some incense to pollute the air. Using our PurpleAir indoor sensor (which we’ve chosen after thorough research), we measure how fast each unit can remove PM10, PM1 and PM2.5 at top fan speed. The PurpleAir sensor provides regular updates on particulate matter levels, allowing us to create graphs showing the evolution of air quality in the room. 

Step 2. We assess the power of the fan

We also measure the unit’s fan power with the Testo 410i anemometer. It’s interesting to see the variation in airflow coming out of the unit at every fan speed. Especially considering the AHAM Verified program measures CADR at the highest speed setting. 

Step 3. We measure sound levels generated

For noise levels, we use a commercial sound meter from 3 ft. away to measure how much noise in decibels (dB) is generated by the air purifier at each fan speed. Like other measurements, the data is displayed in our reviews, but we also share the results on HouseFresh YouTube channel.

Step 4. We measure electricity consumption

We use a power meter to record how much electricity (in watts) the air purifier consumes when running at each of its fan speeds, including sleep mode and stand-by mode.

Step 5. We estimate yearly maintenance costs

We also calculate the long-term costs you can expect to spend each year to run the air purifier. First, we use the appliance energy calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy to calculate how much money running the air purifier will add to your yearly energy bill. Next, we conduct desk research to determine the costs of genuine and generic replacement filters, using filter lifespan information stated by the manufacturer.

Step 6. Real-life experience

All four steps comprise the core performance evaluation we run on every unit. We know the data is solid. However, there’s something about everyday use that cannot be measured in a lab-test situation. That is why our “final step” is using the air purifier regularly at home in an ordinary context. You can learn a lot by just living with a device.

Common questions people have about air purifiers

Wrapping up

Air pollution is real. Over one-third of Americans still live in areas with unhealthy air and suffer from the consequences to their health. Improving our indoor air shouldn’t be something to take lightly. 

Considering how a high-performing air purifier can improve people’s daily lives, it’s somewhat infuriating to find the internet flooded with unfounded reviews of air purifiers that lack the research and data to back them up.

Our goal at HouseFresh is to help consumers find the right air purifier to fit their needs and budgets in real-life situations. We don’t take free units from manufacturers and are not afraid to raise our voices when a hyped unit turns out to be a disappointment. Most importantly, we are driven by a transparent, hands-on approach and constantly improving methods of real-life testing. 

We want our readers to find actual, helpful solutions. We may not always address all of your doubts in our articles. That’s why my mailbox is always open: danny@housefresh.com